A ‘Studio of Excellence’

Company dancers from Dancehampton in East Hampton had their most successful competition yet in West Islip two weeks ago, winning dozens of top awards and earning Dancehampton a Studio of Excellence Award in the secondary level at the Kids Artistic Revue regional competition. 

The studio award “was one of the most memorable things from [the] weekend,” wrote Kelly Hren, Dancehampton’s director, “mostly because it recognizes a variety of high-scoring routines, all different genres and dancers. . . . In order to be eligible for this award, we had to have registered dances in the secondary level in all categories: solo, duet/trio, small group, large group, and line.” The competition was held at St. John the Baptist High School on Feb. 2 and 3. 

Dancehampton dancers ages 9 to 18 performed jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and musical theater routines choreographed by Krystal Lami-roult, Anita Boyer, and Kasia Klimiuk that they prepared over the course of months. 

Dancehampton, which is on Lumber Lane, is in its 12th season. Its dancers have been competing for six seasons, and some have been dancing at the studio since it first opened. “I’ve watched them grow into confident, beautiful dancers with polished technique and performance qualities,” Ms. Hren wrote. 

At the competition on Feb. 2 and 3, they earned 10 elite top first scores, 23 top first scores, and three first scores. They had five numbers that placed first over all, one that placed second, one that placed third, four that placed fourth, and two judges awards. 

The dancers are already preparing for their next two competitions in March, and will showcase their award-winning routines for a local audience at Guild Hall in May.